SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of November 2003
RYANAIR HOLDINGS PLC
(Translation of registrant's name into English)
c/o Ryanair Ltd Corporate Head Office
Dublin Airport
County Dublin Ireland
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F..X.. Form 40-F.....
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934.
Yes ..... No ..X..
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant
in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- ________
RYANAIR TO ENTER INTO DISCUSSIONS WITH CHARLEROI AIRPORT AND THE WALLOON
GOVERNMENT TO PREVENT CLOSURE OF BRUSSELS CHARLEROI BASE
Ryanair, Europe's No.1 low fares airline at a press conference in Brussels today
(Wednesday, 12th November 2003) confirmed that it has learned that a draft
report from the Commission indicates that substantial parts of Ryanair's
arrangements at Brussels Charleroi will be found unlawful.
Ryanair confirmed that it still did not have sight of the actual detail of the
decision and it is responding to feedback received from a number of sources
within the Commission. Ryanair confirmed that should the Commission decision
rule that some or a substantial part of Ryanair's low cost base at Brussels
Charleroi be ruled to be unlawful State Aid then it will;
1. Immediately launch an appeal to the European Court in Luxembourg to have
this decision overturned on grounds of manifest error given that Brussels
Charleroi complied with the market investor principle and offered the
Ryanair package to a number of other airlines on a non discriminatory basis.
2. Ryanair will immediately enter into negotiations with both Brussels
Charleroi and the Walloon Government to explore the possibility of the
airport being privatised and a similar long term, low cost arrangement being
put in place to enable Ryanair to continue to offer its low fares to 2
million passengers per annum at Brussels Charleroi. These ordinary consumers
will be mystified that the Commission would rule against Charleroi just
because it is State owned, when many other privately owned airports are free
to enter these deals.
3. If neither of these options are possible and if a negative decision is
issued by the Commission, then Ryanair will be forced, temporarily, to close
the base at Brussels Charleroi, while the appeal is pending, transfer the
aircraft and the routes to another privately owned European capital city
airport, and then return when this negative decision can be overturned on
appeal.
Ryanair's Chief Executive, Michael O'Leary again called on the Commission to
find in favour of competition, choice and low fares for consumers by finding in
favour of Ryanair's long-term low cost base at Brussels Charleroi.
Mr O'Leary highlighted other examples of low cost airlines obtaining long term
discounted arrangements at publicly owned airports such as Easyjet at Berlin
Schonefeld, Hapag Lloyd Express and Germanwings at Cologne Bonn Airport,
MyTravelLite and Bmibaby at Manchester Airport in the UK.
The Southwest model in the U.S. was built upon negotiating lower costs and
efficient facilities at underused secondary and regional airports. Ryanair has
been replicating this model at both public and privately owned airports all over
Europe and by offering the lowest air fares in Europe has forced high fare flag
carrier airlines to reduce prices and offer lower fares to European consumers.
In other industries, successful low price retailers such as IKEA, Aldi, Lidl and
Tesco's use lower cost, out of town sites and their purchasing power to lower
costs and prices for consumers. Why shouldn't Ryanair be allowed to do the same
in the European airline sector?
Airports such as Charleroi have benefited from enormous traffic growth and are
now profitable enterprises thanks to Ryanair. Why should a complaint from the
state owned, high cost Brussels Zaventem Airport be allowed defeat competition
and low fares? If the EU Commission finds against this successful model at
Charleroi it will mean a return to high fares and less choice as publicly owned
regional and secondary airports will not be able to compete openly and fairly on
a level playing field against privately owned airports around Europe.
A negative decision by the Commission in this case will be manifestly in error
and will do untold damage to the growth of low fare air travel and competition
in European air transport. A negative decision will be a great day for high
fares airlines and high cost airports like Brussels Zaventem who want to
restrict the growth of Ryanair and end the era of low fares. If the EU
Commission's decision is negative it will effectively close Brussels Charleroi
and return Zaventem to its monopoly position in the Belgian market. Belgian
consumers/visitors should not be forced to pay higher fares when Ryanair and
Charleroi can offer them competition, choice and lower fares.
Ends. Wednesday, 12th November 2003
For further information
please contact: Paul Fitzsimmons Pauline McAlester
Ryanair Murray Consultants
Tel. 353-1-8121212 Tel. 353-1-4980300
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.
RYANAIR HOLDINGS PLC
Date: 12 November 2003
By:___/s/ Howard Millar____
H Millar
Company Secretary & Finance Director